In December 2017 the ScotRail Alliance (comprising Abellio ScotRail and Network Rail) commissioned Nick Donovan, a former managing director of the Trans Pennine Express train operating company, to undertake a review and produce recommendations on how train performance in Scotland could be improved. In late 2018, Nichols, acting as an Independent Reporter, undertook an assessment on how well the ScotRail Alliance are implementing the recommendations that Donovan made. This is their report.